Sewing machine



July 6, 1954 s. R. BELL 2,682,846

SEWING MACHINE Filed April 2, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 n 66 T111. 2|. 4 Q8 -/,H56 [92 I I I 1" J '45 :295 72,90 I I582 r I50 2% lqe" Q11 2 I N L I02 I I04 I42 H6 7.4 [74 a ||Ml||||||||||||||mm 2 I 1 ml /l I 'l 522 62 INVENTOR C906 SIDNEY R. BELL 1&4 v

BY M

ATTORNEY s. R. BE-LL SEWING MACHINE July 6, 1954 Filed April 2, 1949 5 Sheets- Sheet 2 NW on Q m in an wow w -1* SIDNEY RBELL BY I M ATILORNEY QQ @m 5. R. BELL SEWING MACHINE July 6; 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 'Filed April 2, 1949 Own 0mm 8w 9% wmm M MLI S. R. BELL SEWING MAC HINE July 6, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet -4 Filed April 2, 1949 S. R. BELL SEWING MACHINE July 6, 1954 Filed April 2, 1949 INVENTOR SIDNEY R BELL BY ATTORNEY Patented July 6, 1 954 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEWING MACHINE Sidney E. Bell, Stamford, Conn., assignor to Irving J. Moritt, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application April 2, 1949, Serial No. 85,191

. light-weight sewing machines intended to be readily portable.

A more particular object and feature is the provision of an improved drive for the needle bar. Another object is to provide improved work feed mechanism. Some features of the improved work feed are the arrangements for reverse feed and also forcontrol of the stitch length. Still another object and feature of the invention is the provision of an improved shuttle drive advantageously' combined with the work feed mechanism.

The other objects center about the presser foot, and one feature is the provision of adjustment of the position of the presser foot and also of the spring tension exerted thereon. Another feature is the improvement in the thread takeup and tensioning mechanism to prevent accidental escape of the thread, yet to facilitate intentional release of the thread. Still another feature is the improvement in the needle plate and especially the means for releasing the same.

To accomplish the foregoing general objects, and other more specific objects which will hereinafter appear, by invention resides in the sewing machine elements and their relation one to another as are hereinafter more particularly described in the following specification. The specification is accompanied by drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a sewing machine embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken approximately in the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken approximately in the plane of the line 4--4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken approximately in the plane of the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken approximately in the plane of the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a section drawn to enlarged scale and taken approximately in the plane of the line 1+1 of Fig. 6;.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section through the bed of the machine, taken approximately in the plane of the line 8-8 of FigI 7;

Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view explanatory of the thread tensioning means;

22 Claims. (01. 112-181) Fig. 10 is a front elevation showing the relation between the needle and the shuttle;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary elevation taken at the end of the sewing machine arm looking in a direction opposite to that of Fig.1;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view explanatory of the work feed and shuttle drive mechanism;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view explanatory of the means to close the bottom of the sewing machine bed;

Fig. 15 is a schematic plan view of the shuttle or hook;

I Fig. 16 is a schematic plan view of the shuttle carrier;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary planview showing the bobbin rewind mechanism; and

Fig. 18 is a schematic plan view of a modified gear reduction drive between the motor and cam shaft.

Referring to the drawing, the sewing machine is shown in Fig. 1, it comprising an arm l2 overhanging a bed 14. The bed houses work feed and shuttle mechanism covered by a removable plate I6. The stitch length may be controlled by an adjustment indicated at I8. The direction of work feed may be reversed by a control indicated at 20. A bobbin from the shuttle may be rewound with thread from spool 24 by means of a shaft end projecting at 26. The machine is electrically driven, connection being made at 28 by means of a suitable plug 30, the connection preferably including a suitable speed control rheostat, not shown, arranged to be operated by either the knee or the foot.

The sewing machine head is preferably arranged to be carried in a small carrying case not shown in the present drawings, but illustrated and described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 40,917, filed July 27, 1948. It is important to know that the sewing machine is readily portable and very tiny in dimension, it having an overall length of only 9", a width of 2%", a height of 43/4", and a weight of only 3 lbs. However, it is not a toy but a real sewing machine which performs practical work. To increase the work table area and to steady the machine, as described in said co-pending application, it is received in a mating opening in the case, which opening close- 1y surrounds the bed and comes flush with the top of the bed H. To facilitate release of the thensurrounded needle plate It, a pushbutton 32 is provided.

The sewing machine is described in greater detail hereinafter.

Main drive Referring to Fig. 2, the motor may be conventional and comprises a field 34 and an armature 36 mounted on a shaft 36, said shaft carrying a commutator 40 cooperating with brushes, one of which is indicated at 42. The motor further includes a cooling fan 44. In the present machine the motor shaft is disposed vertically, the upper end thereof projecting at 26, and the lower end being supported by means of a thrust bearing or ball 46 resting on a support 48, which may be a spring support anchored at 50 to a stud 52 cast integrally with the machine. If it be desired to rotate the motor manually when servicing the machine, or to raise the needle out of the work, or during a threading operation, that is readily done by grasping and turning the knurled knob 22 (Fig. 2) at the upper end of the motor shaft 38.

The parts of the sewing machine are driven from a main cam shaft 54, which is also preferably disposed vertically. The motor is geared to the shaft 54 through appropriate reduction gearing. In the present case this comprises a pinion 56 on motor shaft 38, said pinion meshing with an idler 58 carrying another pinion 60 meshing with a gear 62 secured to the cam shaft 54.

Cam shaft 54 carries a cam 64 which reciprocates the needle bar 66 at the end of the sewing machine arm I2. Cam 64 is connected to needle bar 66 by means of a cam follower 68 and a lever 10 pivoted at I2. The forward end I4 of the lever is bifurcated and straddles the needle bar 66, the latter being notched to receive the ends I4, as is best shown in Fig. 5. Fig. shows how arm I0 is securely riveted at I6 to a solid pin or trunnion piece I2, the ends of which are received on stationary conical bearing pins I8. Reverting to Fig. 2, the ends I4 are rounded to accurately fit in the notches of the needle bar 66 during angular movement of the lever, as is illustrated by the solid and broken line positions in the drawing. This relation is also shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 further shows how a needle 86 is secured in the lower end of needle bar 66 by means of a thumb screw 82.

The cam 64 is preferably a cylinder cam in order to positively control the needle bar in both directions, and its approximate contour will be seen from examination of Figs. 2 and 4. This provides an operating cycle for the needle which includes an appropriate dwell period in a position slightly raised from lowermost position, for cooperation with the hook of the shuttle.

The pins which receive the electrical connection 30 (Fig. 1) are shown at 84 in Fig. 2, said pins being mounted on a suitable piece of insulation 66 within the opening 28 which receives the connector. When a lamp is provided, as here shown, there are preferably three pins, so that the lamp circuit need not be dimmed or opened by control of the motor circuit.

Work feed The work feed mechanism is shown in perspective in Fig. 13. It comprises a vertical feed plate 90 having a serrated upper edge 92 with additional serrated portions 94 and 96. This plate is slidably held by appropriate guide walls in the bed of the machine. These serve to hold the plate in erect position while affording horizontal and vertical movement. The plate is provided with a vertical slot 96 and a horizontal slot I00. Slot 9B permits vertical movement of the plate while receiving a feed means I02 for producing horizontal movement of the plate. Slot I00 per- 4 mits horizontal movement of the plate, while re ceiving a means I04 for producing vertical movement of the plate. By suitable timing the plate is given a four-way feed movement.

The means I04 is essentially a cam formed at the end of a bar I06 which is longitudinally reciprocated, as by means of a cam follower I08 rid ing in a radial cam groove I I0 formed in the gear 62 previously referred to. The cam shape at I04 causes the plate to be raised and lowered in desired time sequence.

The slot I00 is located generally beneath the feed teeth 92, and the cam-shaped end I04 of the bar I06 is preferably so wide as to support the plate 90 with its upper edge 92 in substantially horizontal position. The slot I00 is even longer in a horizontal direction than the width of the bar, in order not to interfere with horizontal movement of the plate. The plate is normally urged downward by means of a generally U- shaped spring wire II2.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 6, and 7, it will be seen how the reciprocable bar I06 is guided for longitudinal movement by appropriate bearing surfaces II4, the end portions I04 being guided between suitable ways II6 (Fig. 6). Figs. 6 and 7 also show how the feed plate 90 is supported between stationary guide Walls II8 and I20. Fig. '7 also shows how the spring II2 is secured in position by means of a screw I22. It will be understood that because of the spring II2 the top wall of the horizontal slot I06 is important, while the bottom Wall is unimportant and may be omitted without changing the operation of the feed plate.

Reverting now to Fig. 13, the horizontally movable member I02 is the forward end of a lever I24 fulcrumed at I26. The rear end of said lever carries a cam follower I28 cooperating with a radial cam I30. In the present case the cam follower is a generally rectangular box dimen sioned to surround the cam I30 for positive movement in both directions. It will be understood that rotation of the cam causes oscillation of the lever about the fulcrum I26, and thus causes the feed plate 90 to move in horizontal direction. The vertical slot 08 acts as a follower, and is long enough in vertical direction to accommodate the vertical movement of the feed plate caused by the cams I04 previously described.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 6, it will be seen that the lever I24 is surrounded by the fulcrum I26. It will also be seen' that the cam I30 is mounted on the main cam shaft 54 previously referred to. Fig. 6 shows how the inside edges of the fulcrum I26 are preferably beveled to form blunt knife-edge type bearings. These may be considered to be legs. Which straddle the lever I24, and which are long enough in vertical direction to accommodate raising or lowering of the lever I24.

Stitch. length control The stitch length is controlled by varying the position of the fulcrum I26. Reverting to Fig. 1, the thumb screw I6 may be loosened and moved along the slot I32, the position being gauged by a scale indicated at the top of the slot. Referring now to Fig. 13, it will be seen that the fulcrum I26 is bent downwardly from a plate I34 longitudinally slotted at I36. Referring now to Fig. 2, the slotted plate I34 is uided by a stud I38, and is held on the stud by means of a washer I40, and screw I42. The

screw and washer are tight, the stud I38 "being long .enough for clearance. At its oppositeend the plate I36 is bent upwardly at I38, and there receives the threaded shank of the thumb screw, said shank being shown at I8. This relation is perhaps most clearly shown in Fig. 4. It will be evident that on releasing the thumb screw I8 and sliding the same in one direction or the other, the fulcrum I28 is moved with the thumb screw, and upon tightening the thumb screw the fulcrum is locked in its new position, thereby determiningv the new stitch length.

Reverse feed The'cams which move the feed plate are so phased that the plate is given a four-way motion, that is, it is first raised, then moved in feed direction, then lowered, and then moved back to initial position. The feed movements take place while the plate is raised, and the restoring movements take .place while the plate is lowered. To reverse the direction offeed it is merely necessary toreverse one of these movefeed cams. In the present case the follower is moved vertically relative to the cams.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the direction of feed of the material being stitched is readily reversed by swinging the handle 20 a little to the right or left, the righthand position being shown. Referring now. to Fig. 13, the handle is connected to ashaft I44 having. arms I46 carrying a vertically movable plate I48. The lower end of the plate is slotted at I50 to receive a hook I52 bent upwardly somewhat at the end of the cam follower I28. The parts I54 of the cam follower underlie the lower edge of the plate. The slot I50 is long enough to accommodate the sideward movement of the cam follower. The plate is itself held against sideward movement by means of a vertical slot I56 fitting over a stationary guide I58 best shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 4 also shows how handle 20 is connected to the end of shaft I44. Plate I48 (Fig. 13) may be slid in horizontal'position beneath hook I52, and then raised to vertical position, at which time it cannot escape from the hook.

Referring now to Fig. 2, it will be seen that there is a .feed cam IEO beneath the feed cam I30, the said feed cams being substantially alike but reversed in phase. This relation will also be clear from inspection of Fig. 6. In Fig. 2 it will be noted that the cams are connected by sloping transition surfaces I62. These make it possible to readily move the cam follower in axial direction from the upper cam to the lower cam, or vice versa, even with the machine running at full speed. It will thus be evident that by turning the handle 20 a small amount in one direction or another, the plate I28 is raised or lowered, the distance being limited by the action of guide I58 (Figs. 2 and 4) in the slot I56 (Fig. 4) of the plate, and thereby raising the cam follower to cooperate properlywith either the forward I62, pressed by 'a'compression spring I64, the

ball acting to hold the handle in either extreme position, the handle being provided with slots I65 to receive ball.

As so far described, the lever I24 (Fig. 13) might undesirably. move in longitudinal direction. This is prevented by means of a transverse groove I66 cooperating with a stationary locating means. The latter is best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, it being numbered I68. A bearing stud I10 serves to hold the lever upwardl against the locating projection I68. slot I66 and locating projection I68 are placed close to the feed plate '90, for there the lever I24 has substantially no vertical movement. From another and more accurate viewpoint it may be said that when the reverse feed control is employed to raise or lower the cam follower end of the lever, the resulting movement of the lever is about the parts I68 and I 10 acting as a fulcrum. Sluulttle Fig. 7. The shuttle rests on and is turned by ashuttle carrier I16 (Figs. 3, 7 and 16) the latter being rotated by a pinion I18 (Figs. 3 and 7).

The shuttle carrier I16 is for the most part a fiat disc which underlies the shuttle, but at one point on its periphery is provided with an upstanding wall I best shown in Fig. 16, the said wall being received in a mating notch "indicated at I82 in Figs. 10, 11 and 15, thus causing the shuttle to rotate with the carrier. However, the shuttle lies loosely on top of the carrier so that a loop of thread from the needle can pass bodily around the shuttle.

The shuttle is oscillated over an'angle somewhat more than half a revolution, in the present case 254. To provide this oscillation the pinion I18 meshes with a gear rack I 84 best shown in Figs. 6 and 13. The gear rack I84 is preferably formed on the longitudinally reciprocable cam bar I06 previously described. More specifically, the end of the cam bar is bifurcated, and the furcations straddle the pinion; The inside edge of one of the furcations is toothed to form the rack I84. The ends of the furcations are bent upwardly to provide the cams I04 which actuate the feed plate vertically, all as was previously described. Thus synchronism is maintained between the operation of the needle, the shuttle, and the feed plate.

Figs. 10 and 11 help show the cooperation between the point or hook I86 of the shuttle and the needle 80. The needle is first moved to lowermost position shown in broken lines at 80' in Fig. 10. It isthen raised slightly to the solid line position 80, thus providing a slack loop of thread at was (Fig. 1-1). It is at this instant that the hook of the shuttle moves past the needle, thus engaging the loop I88, and as will be understood by those familiar with the sewing machine art,

the continued rotation of the shuttle expands the loop I88 and draws it about the shuttle until it slides off the far side of the shuttle, at which time it has been interlocked with the second thread coming from the bobbin within the shuttle.

In accordance with a feature of the-present invention, the point or hook I of the shuttle is not located half-way between the top and bottom plane of the shuttle, as heretofore. Instead it is lowered to a point much nearer the bottom It will be understood that the 7 plane of the shuttle. This minimizes any tendency of the thread to raise the shuttle from the carrier when the loop of thread is expanded, for the eye of the needle is at the bottom of the shuttle, instead of half-way up. Yet the hook safely engages the loop at the widest point of theloop, for the hook has been lowered to a positionnear the bottom of the shuttle. In some sewing machines the needle is first raised slightly to form the slack loop I88 to receive the hook of the shuttle, and is then again lowered slightly to. help insure passage of the expanded loop of thread around the shuttle. In the present machine the cam shape for moving the needle bar is simplified and does not include this extra reversed movement of the needle. result is accomplished by substantially lowering the position of the hook relative to the median plane of the shuttle, and properly positioning the needle in relation to the new position of the hook.

Presser foot Referring to Figs. 3 and 12 of the drawing, a presser foot I 90 cooperates with the serrated edge of the feed plate. The presser foot I90 is pivoted at I92 on a bracket I94 detachably secured to rod I96 by means of a thumb screw I98. The rod I96 is held against rotation by means of a pin 200 slidable in slots 202. The rod I96 is urged downwardly by a compression spring 204, the tension of which may be adjusted by means of a threaded bushing 205. This is knurled at 208 to facilitate rotation and adjustment of the spring pressure.

The pin 200 is prolonged for cooperation with a control handle 2I0. The handle is pivoted at 2 I2 and may be swung to any of three positions. The position shown in Figs. 3 and 12 is the normal sewing position, in which the presser foot may descend to lowermost position, and in the absence of fabric bears directly against the feed plate. This is shown in Fig. 12 by the fiat 214 located at the lower end of slot 202 and well below the position of pin 20!).

However, by turning the handle 2H) from the solid line position to the broken line position 2I0, the flat 2I6 is brought into operation, and this raises the pin 200 slightly, thus providing a small space between the presser foot and the feed plate, suitable for darning. By swinging the handle 2I0 in the opposite direction to the position 2 ID", the fiat 2 I8 is brought into operation, thereby raising the pin 200 to the elevated position 200", which releases the work entirely.

Thread tension Referrin to Fig. 1, thread 225 from spool 24 passes through an eye 222, and thence between tension discs 224, and thence around a check spring 226 to an eye 228, and thence upwardly to a thread take-up arm 235 from which the thread passes downwardly to the eye of the needle as.

The tension discs and check spring are best shown in Figs. 3 and 9, in which it will be seen that the discs 224 are urged together by means of a compression spring 232, the tension of which is adjusted by means of a threaded thumb wheel 234 received on a threaded stud 236. The discs 224 are each provided with a finger tab 238, the said tabs diverging as shown in Fig. 3. This is convenient because by simply pressing the tabs together the discs are separated, thus releasing the thread for free movement during the threading operation, and when removing the sewn work at end of the stitch run. The finger tabs 238 Much the same are held in registration by reason of a tongue 240 on one of the discs received in a mating hole 242 in the other. The hole 242 is formed by striking out another tongue 244, and the latter is received in a mating hole in the side wall of the sewing machine arm, as is clearly shown in Fig. 3, thereb preventing rotation of the discs. The tongue 244 also acts as a stop for check spring 226.

The stud 236 is itself locked in the sewing machine arm by means of a set screw 246. The stud is longitudinally slotted at 248 to receive the end 250 of the check spring. The latter is coiled about the stud and its free end 226 receives the thread. The set screw may be released and the stud rotated to adjust the tension of the spring 226. The part 236 of the stud may be split as shown in Fig. 9, to frictionally hold the adjustment of the thumb wheel 234.

The thread take-up arm 23!! is best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5.. The thread take-up arm is pivoted at 252. It is connected by means of a short link 254, to the forward end 256 of the lever 10 previously referred to. Thus the take-up arm is moved together with the arm 256, but over a much larger angle so that it moves through the various positions shown in Fig. 2 from lowermost to uppermost position.

The thread take-up arm moves in a vertical slot 258 in the end of the sewing machine arm I2. The thread take-up arm has a rearwardly directed slit 250 which receives the thread. The open rear end of slit 260 is within the slot 258, thereby preventing escape of thread from the take-up arm. However, when the take-up arm is moved to its uppermost position the slit moves above the sewing machine arm, as is indicated in Fig. 1, and also by the broken line position 260' in Fig. 2, thus exposing the open rear end of the slit to receive the thread. At this time the thread is taut and will not escape during operation of the machine.

In the present machine the motion of the thread take-up arm is in simple synchronism with the motion of the needle bar. Despite this simplification, the sewing operation is entirely satisfactory, for considerable tolerance in the matter of thread tension is, obtained by use of the extra yieldable check spring 226 previously referred to.

Bobbin wind The bobbin may be wound under power drive. To remove the bobbin from the shuttle it is necessary to remove the needle plate I6. This operation is facilitated by the provision of the button 32 previously referredto in connection with Fig. 1. Referring now to Fig. 7 of the drawing, it will be seen that the outer edge 252 of the needle plate is undercut, while the inner edge 284 is not. However, the inner edge is provided with about leaf spring 265 so shaped as to lock beneath the edge 268 of the opening in the top of the bed of the machine. The button 32 is vertically slotted and receives one end of a lever 215 pivoted at 212. The integrall cast bearing walls for the button 32, and for the lever 210, are clearly shown in section in Fig. 6. The button is retained by a shoulder 33 (Fig. '7). The opposite end 214 of the lever bears against the free end of spring 266. The parts are so shaped that upward pressure at 214 tends to cam the spring toward the left or releasing position, and at the same time pushes the spring upwardly, thereby raising the needle plate about the opposite or undercut edge 262. Thus by pressing button 32 downwardly the needle plate is raised, and it then re- I age supply for, the motor.

"9 'mains raised because of spring 266 which expands above the bed. The plate is then readily picked u and removed.

This exposes the shuttle and the bobbin, the latter being readily raised upward out of the shuttle for rewinding. The bobbin i removed and placed on the upper end 26 (Fig. 2) of the motor shaft 38; This end is so dimensioned and shaped as to frictionally receive the bobbin. In the present case the end 26 is split, as shown at 216, to provide a resilient fit.

Referring now to Fig.1, thread from the spool may be passed through ones hand and fed to the bobbin. In that case the hand of the operator is used to locate the thread and to provide a slight friction to keep the bobbin Winding taut.-

However, I have provided a special guide post 280, best shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 17. ,This has a thread passage or guide of proper height to guide the thread to the bobbin, that is, its height is at the median plane between the top and bottom of the bobbin. The post is located in offset relation so that the thread takes a bend on its way to the bobbin. This introduces friction to keep the winding taut. The post 280 may, if desired, be provided with a small spring 28! which bears against the thread and increases the tension with which it is wound on the bobbin. The distance of post 280 from shaft end 26 is large enough to allow free traverse of the thread up and down the bobbin.

Lamp

The sewing machine, is preferably provided with a built-in lamp. This is best shown in Figs. 2 and of the drawing, in which it will be seen that a screw 282 anchors an insulation holder 284 in place, the holder having a spring socket 286 for a lamp 288.

The entire bottom wall 2960f the sewing machine arm l2 is made of translucent material, preferably a sheet of a suitable moldable thermoplastic material. This sheet may be provided with a window or'opening 292. The latter is so placed thatiillumination' from the lamp passes through the opening to theneedle point. Thus the entire bed of the'inachine. is illuminated through the translucent'wall290, but a brighter light is provided at th' 'localized area of the needle, presser foot, and bobbin.

It will be understood that the lamp is preferably energized through the regular power supply for the machine. For this purpose'the cable 294 ,(Fig. "1) leading to the plug 3!! maybe a three-wire cable providing two supply circuits for themachine, one being a constantvoltage,

uninterrupted supply for the lamp, and the other being a' treadle or knee controlled variable volt- One formof treadle controlled rheostat which may be used. for the purpose is disclosed in my ole-pending application Serial -No. 25,879, filed May 8, 1948, now Patent'No. 2,561,556, and entitled Rheostat. The carrying case for the sewing machine may be, and preferably is, provided with a compartment for the rheostat. A good example of a suitable carrying case, especially suited for the presentmachine, is that disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 40,917, previously mentioned.

Miscellaneous The frame or housing of the sewing machine is preferably made by die casting, and the number of parts required is minimized. Referring to Fig. 1, there are two main castings, onebeing the arm [2, and the other bed l4, these being secured together at a meeting plane 236, where the parts are preferably stepped and shouldered to interlock, as is best shown at 298 in Fig. 4. The two main castings are securely locked together by means of screws passing upwardly through the lower casting into the upper casting, these screws being shown at 365 in Figs. 5 and 6. An accurate fit may be assured by the provision of pilot pins or dowels 302.

The upper and lower castings have suitable bearing supports cast integrally therewith, but in the case of the bearings at and beneath the shuttle the structure is completed by the addition of a plate 304. This plate is clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3, 6- and '7 which also show the screws 306 which hold the plate upwardly in position. These are best shown in Fig. 6, there being three screws 306 and two locating pins or dowels 38. The plate 304 provides a bottom bearing for the longitudinally reciprocable rack and cam. It also provides a bottom bearing for the spindle of the shuttle carrier and pinion.

The entire bottom area of the bed is closed by means of a plate 3), which may be stamped out of sheet metal. This plate is fitted within the peripheral edge of the bed, as is clearly shown in most figures of the drawing. The plate is anchored in position by means of a rotatable spring lock 312, best shown in Figs. 2, .6, 7 and 14 of the drawing. Referring to Fig. 14, it will be seen that the ends of the spring 3l2 are bowed upwardly aand that the center portion is struck downwardly to form tabs 3. By first turning the spring to a position about at right angles to the position shown, these are passed through a rectangular slot 316 in the'bottom plate 3|. When the spring is rotated to the position shown it is anchored in position. The tabs 354 projecting beneath the bottom plate, as shown in Fig. 2, may be used to rotate. the spring in clockwise direction through a small angle from the locked position shown in Fig. 6, whereupon the parts are unlocked, it being understood that the upwardly bowed ends of'the spring 3l2 are received in mating slots 3| 8 best shown in Figs. 2 and '7. In Fig. 14 it will be noted that the diagonally opposite corners are turned downwardly to form stops 326 which limit the rotation of the spring when in locked position. The opposite corners 32| may be flared upwardly slightly to facilitate entry when looking the bottom in position. Y

The bottom of plate 3| ll is provided at it peripheral edge with a soft rubber strip 322 having a thickness greater than the rabbet into which'the bottom is received. This rubber strip has a vibration absorbing and sound deadening effect. It also prevents marring of furniture should the machine be placed directly on a table top or the like, instead of in the carrying case. When so used, it further prevents movement or sliding of the machine, for it should be kept in mind that the machine is very light.

The main castings of the machine are preferablymade of a light-weight metal, for example,

aluminum, and are formed by die casting. Appropriate bearing sleeves are introduced to increase the wear of the machine, and referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the motor shaft.

compressed powdered metal saturated with oil so as to be self-lubricating. Fig. 3 shows the provision of similar bearing sleeves 332 and 3'34 for the needle bar 66.

Referring now to Fig. 5, it will be recalled that the lever is fixedly secured to a trunnion piece 12. The ends are center-bored, and receive the conical bearings 18. These are formed on studs which are locked in position by means of set screw 336. To remove the parts the spring button 338 is pried out of position. The set screw 336 is released, and the adjacent conical bearing removed. To facilitate complete removal of the opposite conical bearing, which is received in a blind hole, a small compression spring 340 is preferably interposed behind the end of the bearing. To take up wear in the conical bearings, it is merely necessary to loosen the set screw336 for bearing 18, thus permitting the spring 340 to push the conical bearing against the trunnion piece 12, whereupon the set screw 333 may again be tightened.

Referring to Fig. 2, the lower end of the'cam shaft 54 is twice stepped to smaller diameter, the lowermost part being threaded. The double cam I30, I80 is slid over the lower end of the shaft as far as the shoulder and is followed by the gear, 'which in turn is followed by a nut 342. The stepped portion of the shaft has a flat to lock the parts against rotation, this being clearly shown in Fig. 6. Axial movement of the cam shaft is prevented by means of a collar 344 (Fig. 2). The cylinder cam 64 is secured to the shaft by means of a set screw, best shown at 346 in Fig. 4.

Referring now to Fig. 5, access to the brushes of the motor is obtained at the insulation caps 348. The field of the motor is held in position by suitable walls 349 molded to proper shape and dimension.

The shaft I44 is held against axial movement by means of the knob on the outside, and a split spring washer 350 on the inside. The bearing 252 for the thread take-up arm is received in an integral boss 352, and is locked in position by means of a set screw at 354. This may be lowered and reset to take up wear. The lever 10 may be formed of heavy gauge metal, preferably flanged to channel shape at the bend in order to rigidify the same. The forked ends 14 are in such case welded to the lever, but if desired all or most of the lever may be made of a suitable die casting. The use of separate ends permits the use of hardened metal.

Referring to Fig. 6, the lever I24 may be stamped. of heavy gauge metal. This piece requires no bending except at the hook I52. The reciprocable bar I03 may be stamped of heavy gauge metal, and the ends are bent at I04 to provide the desired cam shape. The support plate I43 which raises and lowers the lever I24 to reverse the direction of feed, and the slidable fulcrum member I26 which varies the stitch length, may be struck from heavy gauge metal. The same applies to the lever 21?] shown in Fig. '7, and to the needle plate I6 (Fig. '7) operated thereby.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 6, the bearing walls II4 for rack bar I 08 are molded integrally with the bed. The same applies to the bearing walls 2H of the lever 219, and the guide for button 32. At the shuttle the bed is molded with a circular well which holds the shuttle in alignment with the shuttle carrier. The shuttle carrier is inserted in position from above, the pinion I13 (Fig.

'7) being smaller in diameter than the journal I19. The bearing IBI of journal I19 is preferably an Oilite or other suitable bearing. The small diameter journal I83 beneath pinion I18 is received in the plate 304 previously referred to. Here too an Oilite bearing is preferably employed, though not shown. The stepped diameters I19, I18, I83 make for ease of removal, for service, cleaning, etc. The carrier is held in position by means of a large bearing washer I and a split spring washer I81.

Reverting to Fig. 2, the motor field is held by a set screw, as shown. The bed of the machine as cast is provided with the stop and guide member I58 for the plate I48, and with the guide boss I38 for the slotted stitch adjusting arm I34. It also has a horizontal bearing wall 53 beneath the motor, which wall carries the stud 52 pr y referred to, as well as the motorbearing 32B.

Referring to Fig. 13, the arms I46 are preferably formed by bending a piece of heavy rod, the centerportion 356 of which may be secured to the shaft I44 by welding, as is indicated at 358. In Fig. 14 the bottom 3 l0 and the lock spring 3I2 therefore are both stampings formed of sheet metal, the latter preferably being a resilient metal.

Referring to Fig. '7, a tube or bushing BI is located directly beneath the needle and receives the end of the needle when the needle is in lowermost position. The upper end of the bushing is force-fitted into the casting, while the lower end registers with a hole therebeneath through the plate 304. The main purpose of the bushing is to keep oil or lubricant away from the end of the needle, evenif the working parts are heavily lubricated. The hole is carried down through the bottom plate 304 in order to make it possible to clear lint out of the passage, after the machine has undergone long use.

A modified reduction gear mechanism between the motor shaft and the cam shaft is schematically shown inFig. 18, referring to which it will be seen that the lower end of the motor shaft 38 is provided with a worm 330 meshing with a worm gear 382 carried on a shaft 364, the other end of which turns a helicalgear 366 meshing with a large diameter helical gear 388, the latter corresponding to the gear 62 previously described, and being similarly mounted at the lower end of the cam shaft 54, and being similarly provided with a cam groove III} for operating the rack bar. In order to develop adequate power for heavy duty sewing from a motor which is so small and light, themotor is preferably a very high speed motor followed by considerable speed reduction. .In one particular example the otor turns at 28,000 R. P. M, and the machine operates at 700 R. P. M, the reduction ratio being 40:1. This reduction .is provided by a 10:1 reduction at the worm and gear 360, 362, and a 4: 1 reduction at the spiral gears 356, 368. It will be understood that these quantitative values are given solely by way of illustration, and not in limitation of the invention.

It is believed that the construction, operation, and method of use, as well ast he advantages of my improved miniature, light-weight sewing machnie, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description thereof. It will also be apparent that while I have shown and described the invention in a preferred form, changes may be made in the structure disclosed, without departing from the spirit of the invention as sought to be defined in thefollowing claims. In the claims the term slot as applied to the horizontal slot in the feed plate is intended to include a slot or recess which is open at the bottom.

I claim:

1. In a sewing machine, a vertical unpivoted feed plate having a serrated upper edge, guide walls in the bed of said machine for holding said plate in erect position while affording horizontal and vertical movement thereof, means to maintain the upper edge of the feed plate horizontal during vertical movement thereof, said plate having a vertical slot, a generally horizontal feed lever oscillatable in a generally horizontal plane and having its forward end received in the aforesaid vertical slot, said slot accommodating vertical movement of the plate while acting as a follower for horizontal movement, a fulcrum at an intermediate point on said lever, a cam and cam follower at the opposite end of said lever for oscillating the same about the fulcrum, said fulcrum being slidable longitudinally of said lever, and means including a holding means for shifting said fulcrum and thereby changing the length of the feedmovement and consequently the length of stitch.

2. Feed mechanism as defined in claim 1, in which the feed mechanism includes a second alternatively usable feed cam disposed in displaced phase to the first feed cam, sloping transition surfaces between said first and second cams, and a reverse control means arranged to relatively move said cams and cam follower in axialdirection in order to engage the cam follower with either of the aforesaid two feed cams.

. 3. In a sewing machine, a feed plate having a serrated upper edge, a generally horizontal feed lever oscillatable in a generally horizontal plane 14 follower with either of the aforesaid two feed cams, without however, disturbing the linkage arrangement in respect to the desired horizontal feed movement.

6. In a sewing machine, reversible feed mechanism comprising a feed plate, a radial feed cam,

' follower in axial direction along said sloping and having its forward end received in the feed plate, a vertical fulcrum at an intermediate point on said lever for. horizontal movement, a cam and cam follower at the opposite end of said lever for oscillating the same about the fulcrum, said fulcrum being slidable longitudinally of said lever, means including a holding means for shifting said fulcrum and hereby changing the length of the feed'movementand consequently the length of stitch, said fulcrum being substantial in vertical dimension to accommodate a'vertical movement of the lever at the fulcrum.

4. In a sewing machine, a reversible feed mechanism comprising a feed plate, a'radial feed cam, a cam follower, a relativelylong lever disposed between said cam follower and said feed plate, a fulcrum for said lever, a second alternatively usable feed 'cam' disposed in displaced phase to the first feed cam, and control means forsaid reverse mechanism arranged to shift the end of the lever having the cam follower in'axial direction in order to bring said cam follower into engagement with either of the aforesaid two feed cams, the connection to said feed plate and'said fulcrum being arranged to afi'ord the shift movement of the end of the lever without changing the stitch length. r

'5. In a sewing machine, reversible feed mechanism comprising a feed plate; a radial feed cam having a vertical axis, a horizontally movable cam follower which is also movable axially of said cam, linkagebetween said cam follower and said feed plate for horizontal movement, a second alternatively usable radial feed cam disposed in displaced phase to the first radial feed cam on the same axis, and control means for said reverse mechanism arranged to move said cam follower in axial direction in order to engage thev cam transition surfaces in order to engage the cam follower with either of the aforesaid two feed cams.

7. A sewing machine comprising a sewing machine head having a vertically reciprocable needle bar at one end of the'head, a motor, a vertical cam shaft driven by said motor, a cam at the upper end of said cam shaft, a lever extending between said cam and said needle bar for reciprocating the needle bar, a feed plate in the bed of the machine beneath the needle bar, a cam at the lower end of said cam shaft in the bed of the machine for reciprocating said feed plate vertically, and another cam at thelower end of said cam shaft in the bed of the machine for reciprocating said feed plate horizontally.

8. A sewing machine comprising a sewing ma chine head having a vertically reciprocable needle 'bar at one end of the head, an electric motor disposed with its shaft vertical at the opposite end of the head, a vertical cam shaft intermediate said motor and needle bar, reduction gearing between said motor shaft and said cam shaft, a cylinder cam at the upper end of said cam shaft, and a lever extending between said cam and said needle bar for reciprocating the needle bar, a feed plate in the bed of the machine beneath the needle bar, a radial cam at the lower end of said cam shaft in the bed of the machine for reciprocating said feed plate vertically, and another radial cam at the lower end of said cam shaft in the bed of the machine for reciprocating said feed plate horizontally. v

9. A sewing machine'comprising a sewing machine head having a vertically reciprocable needle bar at one end of the head, a motor, a vertical cam shaft driven by said motor, a cam at the upper end of said cam shaft, a lever extending between said cam and said needle bar for reciprocating the needle bar, a feed plate in the bed of the machine beneath the needle bar, a cam at the lower end of said cam shaft in the bed of the machine for reciprocating said feed plate in a first direction, a pair of differently phased radial cams at the lower end of said cam shaft in the bed of the machine, a cam follower cooperating with either'of said cams for reciprocating the feed plate in a direction transverse to the first direction, and means for relatively moving said cam follower and cams in axial direction in order to reversethe direction of feed.

10. A sewing machine comprising a sewing machine head having a vertically reciprocable needble bar at one end of the head, an electric motor disposed with its shaft vertical at the opposite end of the head, a vertical cam shaft intermediate said motor and needle bar, reduction gearing between said motor shaft and said cam shaft, a cylinder cam at the upper end of said cam shaft, a lever extending between said cam and said needlebar for reciprocating the needle bar, a feed plate in the bed of the machine beneath the needle bar, a radial cam at the lower end of said cam shaft in the bed of the machine for reciprocating said feed plate vertically, a pair of differently phased radial cams at the lower end of said cam shaft in the bed of the machine, a cam follower cooperating with either of said cams for reciprocating the feed plate horizontally, and means for relatively moving said cam follower and cams in axial direction to reversethe direction of feed.

11. In a sewing machine, an oscillatable shuttle carrier, means to oscillate the same about a vertical axis, an oscillatable shuttle having a hook and a bobbin, the point of said hook being located nearer the bottom plane than the top plane of the shuttle, a vertical needle, means to reciprocate the needle, said means providing a dwell in such position that a loop of thread is formed at the height of the point of the hook, while the eye of the needle is at the bottom plane of the shuttle.

12. In a sewing machine, a reversible feed mechanism comprising a feed plate, a vertical cam shaft, radial feed cams mounted on said shaft in displaced phase relation, sloping transition surfaces between said cams, a feed lever having one end operatively connected to said feed plate and having a cam follower portion for engaging either of said radial cams, a fulcrum having vertical legs straddling said lever, a member having a horizontal slot for receiving a part of said lever, said slot being long enough to accommodate the horizontal motion of the lever caused by the radial feed cams, control means for raising or lowering said member in order to bring the lever into engagement with one feed cam or the other, the aforesaid fulcrum legs being sufficiently long to accommodate the raising or lowering of the lever to bring the same in engagement with one cam or the other.

13. In a sewing machine, a reversible feed mechanism comprising a feed plate, a vertical cam shaft disposed remote from said feed plate, radial feed cams mounted on said shaft in displaced phase relation, sloping transition surfaces between said cams, a feed lever having one end operatively connected to said feed plate and having its other end acting as a cam follower for engaging either of said radial cams, a fulcrum having vertical legs straddling said lever intermediate said feed plate and said cams, an upright member having a horizontal slot for receiving a rear portion of said lever, said slot being long enough to accommodate the horizontal motion of the lever caused by the radial cams, control means for r ising or lowering said mem her in order to bring the lever into engagement with one feed cam or the other, the aforesaid fulcrum being sufficiently long to accommodate the raising or lowering of the lever to bring the same in engagement with one cam or the other, and means localized at the feed plate to restrain the end of the feed lever against vertical movement without interfering with the horizontal feed movement thereof.

14. In a sewing machine, a reversible feed mechanism comprising an upright feed plate, a vertical cam shaft disposed remote from said feed plate, radial feed cams mounted on said shaft in displaced phase relation, sloping transition surfaces between said cams, a long feed lever having one end connected to said feed plate and having its other end acting as a cam follower for engaging either of said. radial cams, a fulcrum hav- 16 ing vertical legs straddling said lever intermediate said feed plate and said cams, guides affording slidable adjustment of said fulcrum longitudinally of the lever to change the stitch length, said lever being extended at its rear end beyond said feed cams, an upright member having a horizontal slot for receiving the rear end of said lever, said slot being long enough to accommodate the horizontal motion of the lever caused by the radial cams, control means for raising or lowering said member in order to bring the lever into engagement with one feed cam or the other, the aforesaid fulcrum legs being sufficiently long to accommodate the raising or lowering of the lever to bring the same in engagement with one cam or the other, and means localized at the feed plate to restrain the end of the feed lever against vertical movement with- 'out interfering with the horizontal feed movement thereof.

15. In a sewing machine, a vertical unpivoted feed plate having a serrated upper edge, guide walls in the bed of said machine for holding said plate in erect position while affording horizontal and vertical movement thereof, said plate having a vertical slot, and a long horizontal slot, said horizontal slot being located beneath the serrated upper edge of the feed dog, a horizontally movable feed means received in said vertical slot, and a vertically movable feed means received in said horizontal slot, the latter feed means being so wide as to itself maintain and being the sole means to maintain the serrated. upper edge in horizontal position, said slots being long enough not to interfere with four-way movement of the plate.

16. In a sewing machine, a vertical unpivoted feed plate having a serrated upper edge, guide walls in the bed of said machine for holding said plate in erect position while affording horizontal and vertical movement thereof, a generally horizontal bar located beneath the serrated upper edge and extending transversely of said plate, said bar being so wide as to itself maintain and being the sole means to maintain the serrated upper edge in horizontal position, means to re ciprocate said bar in longitudinal direction, said bar being shaped vertically to act as a cam for the raising or lowering motion of said plate as said bar is recipcrocated longitudinally.

17. 'In a sewing machine, a vertical unpivoted feed plate having a serrated upper edge, guide walls in the bed of said machine for holding said plate in erect position while affording horizontal and vertical movement thereof, said plate having a long horizontal slot located beneath the serrated upper edge, a broad generally horizontal bar extending transversely of said plate and passing through said slot, means to reciprocate said bar in longitudinal direction, said bar being shaped vertically to act as a cam for the raising or lowering motion of said plate as said bar is reciprocated longitudinally, the aforesaid slot acting as a cam follower in cooperation with said bar, said bar being so wide as to itself hold and being the sole means to holdsaid plate with its upper edge horizontal, and said slot being even longer in horizontal direction than the width of the bar in order not to'interfere with horizontal movement of the plate.

18. In a sewing machine, a generally circular shuttle disposed in a horizontal plane and hollowed to receive a standard circular bobbin and having a point movable in a horizontal plane, a carrier for the shuttle, said carrier being carried on a vertical spindle, a vertical needle having an eye, means to move the needle to lowermost position and then upward slightly to a position near the bottom of the shuttle, the point of said shuttle being disposed nearer the bottom than the top of the shuttle, the timing between the needle moving means and the shuttle carrier spindle being such that the shuttle point safely engages a loop of thread at the needle, while the eye of the needle is low enough to mini mize any tendency of the thread to raise the shuttle from the carrier when the loop is expanded by the shuttle to pass around the shuttle.

19. In a sewing machine, a vertical unpivoted feed plate having a serrated upper edge, guide walls in the bed of said machine for holding said plate in erect osition while affording horizontal and vertical movement thereof, a generally horizontal bar located generally beneath the serrated upper edge and extending transversely of said plate, said bar being so wide as to maintain the serrated upper edge in horizontal position, means to reciprocate said bar in longitudinal direction, said bar being shaped vertically to act as a cam for the raising or lowering motion of said plate as said bar is reciprocated longitudinally, a gear rack forming a part of the aforesaid cam bar, and an oscillating shuttle carried by a shuttle carrier having a pinion meshing with said gear rack.

20. In a sewing machine, a vertical unpivoted feed plate having a serrated upper edge, guide walls in the bed of said machine for holding said plate in erect position while affording horizontal and vertical movement thereof, a generally horizontal bar located generally beneath the serrated upper edge and extending transversely of said plate, said bar being so wide as to maintain the serrated upper edge in horizontal position, means to reciprocate said bar in longitudinal direction, said bar being shaped vertically to act as a cam means for the raising or lowering motion of said plate as said bar is reciprocated longitudinally, a gear rack forming a part of the aforesaid cam bar, and an oscillating shuttle carried by a shuttle carrier having a pinion meshing with said gear rack, the working end of said cam bar being bifurcated to straddle the pinion, the gear rack being formed on the inner edge of one of the furcations, and both furcations being shaped to act as the aforesaid cam means.

21. In a sewing machine, a vertical unpivoted feed plate having a serrated upper edge, guide walls in the bed of said machine for holding said plate in erect position while affording horizontal and vertical movement thereof, said plate having a long horizontal slot located generally beneath the serrated upper edge, a broad generally horizontal bar extending transversely of said plate and passing through said slot, means to reciprocate said bar in longitudinal direction, said bar being shaped vertically to act as a cam means for the raising or lowering motion of said plate as said bar is reciprocated longitudinally, the aforesaid slot acting as a'cam follower in cooperation with said bar, said bar being so wide as to hold said plate with its upper edge horizontal, and said slot being even longer in horizontal direction than the width of the bar in order not to interfere with horizontal movement of the plate, an oscillating shuttle carried by a shuttle carrier having a pinion meshing with a gear rack, said gear rack forming a part of the aforesaid cam bar, the working end of said cam bar being bifurcated to straddle the pinion, the gear rack being formed on the inner edge of one of the furcations, and both furcations being shaped to act as the aforesaid cam means received in and cooperating with the aforesaid horizontal slot.

22. In a sewing machine, a vertical unpivoted feed plate having a serrated upper edge, guide walls in the bed of said machine for holding said plate in erect position while affording horizontal and vertical movement thereof, means to maintain the upper edge of the feed plate horizontal during vertical movement thereof, said plate having a vertical slot, and feed means oscillatable in a generally horizontal plane and having its forward end received in the aforesaid vertical slot, said vertical slot accommodating vertical movement of the plate while acting as a follower for horizontal movement, the feed mechanism including a radial feed cam, a cam follower, linkage between said cam follower and said feed plate, a second alternatively usable radial feed cam disposed in opposite phase to the first feed cam, sloping transition surfaces between said first and second cams, and a reverse control arranged to relatively move said cams and cam follower in axial direction in order to engage the cam follower with either of the aforesaid two feed cams.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 28,996 Mueller July 3, 1860 190,098 Thomas Apr. 24, 1877 267,124 Zelner Nov. 7, 1882 286,662 Wendell Oct. 16, 1883 418,895 Leilich Jan. 7, 1890 426,737 Pettenkofer Apr. 29, 1890 465,113 Keats Dec. 15, 1891 530,095 Diehl Dec. 4, 1894 573,864 Diehl Dec. 29, 1896 748,431 Smith Dec. 29, 1903 808,046 Hadley Dec. 19, 1905 994,509 Gray June 6, 1911 1,118,417 Heberling Nov. 24, 1914 1,162,697 Herram Nov. 15, 1915 1,262,114 Smallbone Apr. 9, 1918 1,279,088 DeVoe Sept. 17, 1918 1,323,363 Hemleb Dec. 2, 1919 1,518,494 Elcock Dec. 9, 1924 2,075,973 Briggs Apr. 6, 1937 2,156,560 Bachmann May 2, 1939 2,430,932 Honmann Nov. 18, 1947 2,455,638 Adler Dec. 7, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 617,594 France Nov. 22, 1926 

